One of the biggest issues facing America is illegal immigration as a result of open borders. It has been admitted by our own government that the open border is allowing known terrorist groups to literally walk into the sovereign United States.
How do we approach this problem from a biblical perspective? Well, you have the option to take a deep dive into several passages and resulting doctrines. For that I would point you here to a wonderful article by Ralph Drollinger.
Another way – a less time consuming way – is to look at a single account in the Bible of how the situation was viewed and handled. The book of Nehemiah is apropos here.
Nehemiah had an open border problem.
And in the book of Nehemiah we can see four principles in play concerning how Nehemiah (and the nation) dealt with the problem.
The open border problem was the result of a sin problem.
please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. Nehemiah 1:6
The first response of Nehemiah to a situation of national calamity is repentance. I don’t need to detail here the myriad of things that America needs to turn from. I’m sure half a dozen things leap into your mind without me spelling them out. Those things need to be dealt with humbly and sincerely. Repairing an open border starts first with repairing the nation’s soul. Nehemiah understood this. I pray this for America.
Closed borders are requisite to being a nation.
This idea is inherent in the story of Nehemiah. It’s common logic that a nation (a defined people with unique culture) need borders – either natural or man-made. Nehemiah understood this. The king whom Nehemiah worked for understood this. The people that Nehemiah would rally to build the wall understood this. And if we’re honest with ourselves today we understand this as well. Without borders a nation is in distress and the cities lie in waste (Nehemiah 2:17).
It is good and right to ensure a nation’s borders are secure.
And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.” Nehemiah 7:3
When the wall was complete Nehemiah gave specific instructions that the city should be guarded and watched carefully. This is because he understood the dangers inherent in the unknown. For the same reason that you don’t leave your door unlocked at night, we don’t leave our nation’s border open: the unknown. It is also of note that the people were responsible for both their national border security and their personal safety. Well regulated militia anyone?
It is wise to know who is living inside the secure borders.
Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. Nehemiah 7:5a
God Himself thought it important to have an exact record of who would live inside the border. So, He instructed Nehemiah to make a census of all who would occupy the city. The principles of of dealing differently with citizens, legal immigrants, and illegal immigrants come into play here. Not knowing who is inside the walls is akin to not having any.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Optimists look toward the future and see wonderful possibilities.
Because of this outlook, they are perfectly situated to determine what needs to happen now to arrive at that future state.
On the other hand, a person who is pessimistic cannot see a better future. And they cannot see any point or reason to try anything new right now – because they have no vision where those actions would lead.
In reality, any leader who gets anything done has some measure of optimism.
Maximize your optimism to maximize your leadership.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the Christian life is: a healthy lifestyle.
We do not often think of eating healthy or exercising as spiritual activities, but they are wholly connected to our lives in Christ. As Christians we are to glorify God in our physical body, because it has been bought with a price – the precious blood of Christ. It is now the temple of the Holy Spirit! It is the dwelling place of God!
This verse is one of the main arguments for abstaining from alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc. They destroy the temple of the living God! It is comparable to vandalizing the temple of God. But even more than abstaining from “bad” things, it means involving yourself actively in making wise health decisions.
Make healthy eating choices. Get physical exercise. Get proper rest.
This is not a health or PE class, but the point is biblical – we have a stewardship to care for our body – because it is not our own. So don’t just do it for yourself and your own benefit – do it for the Lord!
A wise family has a vision for their physical health and well being and makes plans accordingly.
Last week I started this series discussing having a spiritual vision for your family. Today, let’s consider an intellectual vision as part of the process of inventing the future of our families.
The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15
Prudent gives the idea of someone who is discerning, who considers things, who is careful intellectually. In other words, someone who is thoughtful. Thoughtful people acquire – or find – knowledge. Amazing concept right? A wise person seeks – begs for, longs for – knowledge.
Interestingly, this verse does not say that only school children ages 3 to 14 do this. It does not say that this only applies to a new worker during the first few weeks on the job. God gives no age limit or categories here. This is for everyone of every age and station of life. A biblical picture of lifelong learning.
An intentional family will have an intellectual vision for each person of the family and the family as a whole.
We know that knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7). So start with yourself. Grow in your knowledge of the Lord. Feed yourself.
There are so many ways to learn today that we have no excuse! So many things available at our finger tips.
Reading is the greatest intellectual advantage in the world. If you are a reader, you can teach yourself anything, you can acquire knowledge about any subject.
Supplementary to that are podcasts, videos, sermons, Bible study books, devotional books, etc, etc.
Learning opens opportunities to excel in your life. Learning opens doors and enable you to serve other people.
Parents – turn off the TV. Turn off the tablet. Teach your children to seek knowledge. Teach them to be hungry to know the Lord, and to explore the world that He has given us to explore.
A family inventing the future is made up of wise people, prudent people, who have a vision to pursue knowledge and benefit from it.
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it”
– Alan Kay
Over the next few weeks, I plan to post a series of blogs centered around 5 key areas for a family vision. Today, we focus on the most important: a spiritual vision.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23
Jesus said that if you are following Him, that it means something. It means you will take up your cross – that you will sacrifice and suffer with Him, for Him. Daily! This is what it means to be an active follower of Christ.
The spiritual life of your family is not a joke. It cannot be a game. It cannot be something else on your calendar.
You must have a spiritual vision for your family members:
A vision for their salvation A vision for their service A vision for their surrender
Those are really three areas of spiritual growth. You get saved, you begin to serve, and you fully surrender. It’s a process we can see in the Bible, and in our own lives.
Parents – your children need to see the reality of your faith.
They need to know your faith in Christ is real.They will not see that if you never come to church. They will not see that if you never read your Bible or pray. Your spouse needs to see that your relationship with the Lord has a real impact on your decisions, on your actions, on your life.
Pray for your spouse, your children, your extended family and their spiritual growth.
Have a vision for every member to be an active follower of Christ.
Studies from the Carnegie Institute of Technology revealed that 15% of success in a career is the skill/expertise/technical knowledge applied, while 85% is due to skill in relationships – personality and the ability to relate to and lead other people. [1]
This finding can definitely be applied to all areas of our work, including and especially ministry.
We all want to improve. We all want to develop our technical skills. Many times, we focus on improving our game in areas like preaching, teaching, writing, facebook live editing (as of 1st quarter 2020!), etc. We pursue degrees. We join cohorts. We attend live webinars. Most of them related to expertise in our area.
But what about our people skills?
I’m not a huge fan of “studies” and “models”, but if Carnegie is even half right about the above percentages, it would seem that we should focus more attention on developing the skills of relating to others.
Leadership is influence. Influence comes from relationships.
Build your relationships, build your influence, build your leadership. That’s the process.
